Mind Wonderin, you don't dig this Dark Star? Wondering? For years i only had the last part of this Dark Star, never hearing the first 20 minutes, finally the whole show was released. The Mind Left Body jam is the best ever version as far as i know! It is so fresh and.. open, Keith is playing some really tasty jazz pie-ano! But this Jerry geetar? Wow, there are some great flourishes everywhere, tops folks, TOPS! Since i live 10 miles from the Spectrum and have seen hundreds of shows there i'm partial to this marathon.
Just a fantastic setlist. P.S. love y'all out there, let's all get together in this country, don't let people tell you how to think.

y'all can't say nothing about this show, it's pure Dead

This was my 2nd show after the Thursday nite show from the 6 night run at The NY Academy of Music. Subway'ed it from Brooklyn to Penn Station with a good buddy. Then Greyhound to another bud's house in Heightstown, NJ. We all 3 were at the same 1st show. Probably another bus ride to Philly and somehow got there. Don't remember the music as much as being there, so it's great to hear this audio.

This is a good to great show which has turned into my go to when I need a lift of Jerry Jazz. Not quite 74 but the free flow that turns into an amazing improv at the end always lifts my spirits! Great Black Peter and the Morning Dew just seems to fit right into the mix!
I'm a fan and its in my tops, even in the middle of this monster tour!

Awesome show from a great month.
Mind Wondrin - I like the review, but 1st set B-??? Come on now.

Check out DJG vocal wise on 1/2 step.
This is a hot show with really good sound.
Dig hearing Half Step, Sugar Magnolia,
towards the end of Set Two
FOTD is completely bizarre. (I wonder if they ever did the slow lude version in the last ballad of the night spot?)
While one might want to put one show up against another from 72 no way an outdoor show in Oregon (All Europe 72 in a day) gets taken down by a show from South Philly.
I listened to this somewhat out of order but the deeper in I got the more I am convinced this is one of the finer recordings I have heard.
Check out the harmonies (IKYR.)
Unique take on the bands sound.
Phil does that "Hi-ya Hi ya kids"
Oh yeah , they rock PROMISED super hard
and then BIRD SONG is just so mellow.
Always think of the BEE SONG by that Shannon brother. Hope he got inspired by the GD.
LOSER is a fierce tune. must comment on Keith just adding so much light & color on Piano.
Garcia probably heard echoes of KG when BH was sitting in.
Big River is an under the radar flamethrower.
I am not sure who s bringing that twang but wow is that cool. Just isolating on the various members of the band. Billy laying into those skins.Garcia's guitar work is just blazing and Weir just sparking.
Vocals are right there with the instruments.
Ramble On Rose- Great set-list
Aces back to back!!!
It seems to me that much of the Dead Air has been edited out of this recording. Which is a good thing as far as getting the full effect of the music building to crescendo after crescendo.
CUMBERLAND comes in over 6 minutes pretty impressive indeed and this is the full tilt version.
Remember when they used to break this out with Brent and some of his rockers?
This is mighty fine. Back in the day my knees got up around my head and my fingers knuckle dragged across the floor dancin to this tune.
PITB-only knock on 72 is they completely underutilized Donna Jean. It might be fashionable to knock on her nowadays but her harmonies helped smooth out some of the rougher edges the band could find themselves in. If there is one song that conveys the essence of the sound it would be BOX of Rain. Toward the end of the tune there is a make or break section that they have to make a tricky quick transition on and when they nail it they just ride the harmonies home but if they screw it up then it is pretty jarring. Although Garcia somehow always manages to create a bridge
but I think that is what they meant by 'without a net'
You got a 17 minutes PITB and 37 minutes plus of Dark Star.
The jam about 30 minutes into the STAR is GD creativity at its absolute best somewhere between GDTRFB and The yet to be invented Wheel

Awsome Bird Song that really sets the tone for the rest of a awsome show !

I've heard many a dead show in my day. There are some really spectacular shows out there, 2/27/69, 5/2/70, 9/27/72,10/18/72, 10/19/73, 10/25/73, 11/11/73.... but this one is hands down my favorite. There's just something very special about this show. Dark star is my favorite dead song, and I strongly believe that this is the finest version ever played. But really the whole show is nothing but goods. The setlist is perhaps the finest setlist for a single show that exists (although 10/25/73 is a strong contender). This is what I tell people to listen to that are obsessed with may 77 or spring 90. Not even the slightest comparison folks, its not even in the same universe. Nothing will ever touch 72-74 dead.

I can appreciate all the superlatives given for this evening's offerings. Very nice DS > Dew, et al. But this review is coming from one who adores the "live" aspect of live shows - and that's atmospherics. Upon throwing in the first file into Soundforge, my initial response was "Wow, there is absolutely NO life to this SBD. None. It's as lifeless and sterile as Mars or the moon.
But being an optimist, I know there's water on Mars. So I was hoping I could put a little extra umph into this thing, thinking there seemed to be a lot of room for additional bass and midrange to give it some depth. And a goodly amount of reverb would help tremendously.
So after fiddling around with the knobs and sliders for a few minutes on the first test song and rearranging the set lists as I am regularly known to do, I sat back in the chair with my feet up, and with my eyes closed, let the show come to me fresh. And to my utter surprise, the show was 100% better. Granted, I prefer FOB-heavy matrixes to SBDs, as a crowd maven. But if you run in my circles, I can recommend this upload only if you have the software to soften what is probably the most sterile, lifeless board I've ever heard - and I've heard a lot of them. BTW, I much prefer mixing the Star after Black Peter. It's a really, really nice flow.
Speaking of flow, He's Gone > Truckin' is beautifully transitioned, very smooth - like sliding a blue point oyster. And Feather & Doug The Dude are correct - this Star > MLB is simply gorgeous. It's #2 in my book - right up there with 11.11.73, which is my all time favorite. Three stars for the straight board. 4 1/2 if you have the software - it makes that much difference. I can see why this is a DP. There's lots of matrix potential hear if a decent (and rare) audience tape is ever found to give this some live atmospherics, and it's mixed with this board (re-engineered as I've done it). I can see a matrix of this being a solid five some day, if it isn't already a five with this Star > Dew.
Hmm, forget the 4 1/2 kids. After hearing this a few more times this week, this is definitely a five - this show is just too good to give it anything less... mind you, that's with the added bass, midrange, and reverb.

i am just reviewing the cumberland its a killer should get yer feets and ass a moving enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!

I just downloaded this from losslesslegs.net because i'm iso the ultimate darkstar. So I've heard that this show May be the one. This Happens to be the day i was born as well! 9/21/72 12:05 pm 45 deg. lat. about 2 hours north of where the boys were setting up their equipment I was making my way into this little section on the universe. At one point I suppose from exhaustion mom decided to do a little mlb jam of here own and floated away towards the beautiful light above a little voice told her it wasn't time yet and down she returned to her body and got me here (thanks mom). So i guess the mlb thing is something i'm akin to. looking forward to hearing this dark star and see we it takes me to.

Ahhh!!!!!!!
My mind melted, 'cause this Darkstar is so good....

This show sometimes appears on best show lists. Tough crowd, late '72, especially up against 9/27. In fact there are a few clunkers - but also serious heat. Notably, the second set has two serious, must-hear stretches.
First Set. Bobby was always great on Bird Song in late '72, and with Jer breaking a string he and especially Keith take it home. China>Rider is mostly standard, except for cool, rubbery solos. Loser is the first song on the set to really mark for the era. Everybody is ON and the harmonies are nailed. Billy pwns Big River by adding one of his trademark shuffles.Ramble on Rose wasn't really explored in '72 until September, and this is right where it started to really gel. This uptempo version is much like the Stanley, a few days later. Playin' is solid and, unlike most from the era, without much Donnaskreech™.
Second Set. The middle is average to below average for '72, but not to worry - there are two serious stretches on either side. Though it's an odd first song slotting, this is a superb He's Gone, becoming a great ride. Truckin' can be the most generic of the oeuvre, unless it really pops. This one pops. Black Peter too. Rather than so many plodders it's uptempo enough and fitted with fine fretwork. Dark Star is a 37min whopper that some seem to really like, but most of it is pretty formless and searching. Parts are nice but overall it doesn't stand above a dozen other '72s I can think of (such as 3/23 or 5/18). There's an average stretch (with a trainwreck of a Sugar Mag) until Friend of the Devil, which is a different, flavorful version; kush on a tray. The SBD is missing the beginning (the first 30sec on the official release are from 9/27). Jer really flies on Not Fade Away>Goin' Down the Road, and everybody is right there with him. Fall '72 was hot for One More Saturday; they played the hell out of it. This is a great example of why this song was written.
1st Set:  B-
2nd Set: A-
Overall = 4 stars
Highlights:
Loser - near or at the top of the dozen from '72
Ramble on Rose - the exact point where it got better and more fleshed out
He's Gone - pretty much perfect, an A+ ride
Truckin' - wonderful tranny in and then energetic
Black Peter - building and not plodding version
Friend of the Devil - rhythmically different, fresh
Not Fade Away>GDtRFB - gets better and better
One More Saturday - probably as good as 5/26
SOURCES: The masse SBD and the mitchell-flaschner are the same. The entire SBD is on Dick's Picks #36.

One of the best.

Classic jazz era dead! When did Mile Davis open for them? Regardless, you can hear the influence here!

High points:
-Transition from Not Fade Away ---> GDTRFB, utterly smooth.
- Bird Song, is Keith the best thing that ever happened to the band? Obviously Pig was responsible for much of the dead’s early style and character, but Keith brought the piano/keys to the forefront and created the style of music I love so much in the grateful dead.
- Dark Star, what a build to an awesome new place at about 30mins! Holy Sh*t!

What a joy as of late to see these previously restricted shows available for listening. Thanks for the 50th anniversary present!

this is just a great show with everything one could want... classic high energy and VERY creative birdsong, truckin' playin' dark star, morning dew, others
among the most intriguing parts of an across the board appealing show is bobby's playing in friend of the devil -- a true craftsman, playing 'lead' rhythm for much of the time. awesome.

Ok. Let's get to the highlights:

1) Birdsong-- this is a top 3 Birdsong from 72! Even with Jerry breaking a string early in the jam! After jerry breaks his string, Keith provides a vital stick save to make this jam good
2) El Paso-- I normally despise this song, but this might be not only the best version, but it made me enjoy this song for the first time EVER!
3) Ramble on Rose-- This here is aming the best versions I ever heard. Jerry's vocals are clear and the band is on the mark
4) Cumberland-- insanely spectacular version. My favorite version had always been the Europe 72 version, but this one is close.
5) Playing in the Band-- if it weren't for that incredible version on 8/27/72, this would be #1. Full throttle progressive jazz for the 1st 6 minutes, then it gets spacey for the final 4 minutes. But that full throttle jam part is out of this world.
To conserve time/space, I will simply state that this is the best pre-hiatus 2nd set I ever heard and arguably the best ever.
Or as the Grateful Deads own website review proclaimed:

"They can't all be the best, but this one might very well be"

If there is anyone out there that can find 1 negative i need to know what is. This dude keith and donna sucks or whatever . Wow a whole 33 shows you are making that up is there anyone as cool as you? You say that you got dicks picks all this re released stuff, albums and whatever else. The one thing that you don't have and never will is what the Grateful Dead was all about. From '78 up until brent passed we saw on average 43 shows a year afterbrent passed 10 a year because there was no reason to see more in fact it was pretty lame. Back to donna and keith........why did you go to shows anyway? You seem pretty geeky to me. I bet you did not see shows until vince welnick came around,which was way kool there was enough people already who had no idea why they were there. In closing this show 9/21/72 is very easily one of the top 20 shows the band ever played. There is nothing,not even 1 negative point about this show except for the fact i didn't go, i was still a little young. By the way you typed your little couple lines, the only point you make is you really did no get what the band had to offer on ay level. Completely without a clue.

Actually no those were not his exact words, not even close, but you have the basic premise correct - Jerry wanted their music to be for the people and saw mno need to capitalize over and over and over again. Weir is the problem, he is the one who b*t ched and whined about the soundbiards on the archive, he is a complete toolbox. I saw the Dead over 33 times, risking my life more than once. I have to0ns of spouindboards in my collection, and you know what - I have every album of theirs, on vinbly, on CD, on remasterered CD, I have 75% at least pf everything else they have released - the dicks picks, the road trips, the garscia series, etc. I don't buy the releases they really chop up, which unfortunately is to many, but obviously I support this band financially several times over. That still wasn't good enough for Weir. Then they just bailed on the whole thing and put it in rhino's hands, an even dumber move.
In any event this is a great show from a great band at one of their peaks, and one of the small handful of Dicks Picks that is worth owning because they don't chop it up too badly, and they actually did a decent mastering job on that one, which is a,so rare for a dicks picks.

I downloaded this show from an Aud. a while back. Great show and great sound. It's pretty upsetting to know that these shows are being sucked up to sell as "Dick's Picks". Little by little disappearing into the pockets of I don't really care. In my opinion this is selfish. I'm sure from above Jerry would not approve of profits made from his music. His exact words I believe, "When were done with it I don't care where it goes". I don't think he meant for people to make money from it. I love this music from the bottom of my heart and soul. I may be wrong but that's how I feel, compassionate as was Jerry.

when there's no audio listing for it! A lot of you guys seem to have been able to othewise you wouldn't have written a review - how the fuck did you get to listen to it when no audio is shown or available - ? Would appreciate any insight anyone can give. Thanks.

What's the point of making a review if I have to pay 20 dollars first to get the CD.

Personal favorite. I recall a few years ago I had 2 dates... one friday, one saturday. They both ended up canceling on me in 10 minutes. I put on the second set of this show, Which I had never heard... And by the end of the set, I was in such a great mood. Totally humbled before all of existence. So grateful.
Bird Song is the among the best ever. Keith drips some serious goo and jerry, of course...Also, stellar He's gone.
This show is really all about the Dark Star> Grass Jam > Morning Dew... Jerry sounded like he was picking a banjo in that jam out of DS. and then to drop the dew like that? Just not fair! And that doesn't even tell the whole story for the rest of set 2! Just listen, I won't ruin the rest for you. Smile smile smile.

Isn't this show GREAT!!!! The most abstract Dark Star in existence. I just pulled out Dicks Picks 36.It was exactly 38 years ago today the Dead performed on this night at The Spectrum. Incredible. I LOVE '72 Dead.

Dick's favorite DS, amazing show throughout, amazing month and a half of GD history, get DP36, nuff said.

Super grate performance. I have had this sbd for several years so I can't comment on the sound quality of this LMA offering but if it's the same version it is fantastic.

...after Veneta, but honestly THIS show might be even better, if not equal. had it for a while now as a dick's pick, and god does it SMOKE!! all the aforementioned highlights are right on target; PITB, CHINA>RIDER, CUMBERLAND, TRUCKIN, SUGARMAG, etc. but the real standout STAR>DEW is something every deadhead HAS TO HEAR. it is one of the most special things about this band, and why we love them so much...so fluid, so entrancing, so exciting!
A MUST HEAR/STREAM/STEAL

This is why love the Dead so much...well, there are other reasons too, but...such a phenominal Dark Star inspired me to kinda lay out what I hear...is it what you hear? Hope it helps you explore...
(0:01)
- Theme
- Theme exploration
- Drifting away from the theme, getting spacey
- Jammy, trying to find their groove
(4:38)
- Jerry reminds us it’s Dark Star
- Jammy, exploratory
- Instruments really speaking to each other, you can hear the progress
- Space Jazz
- They can’t maintain bliss for too long, by law, so they fall back and keep exploring
- Phil sneaks up on you, then drops a Dark Star hint
- Jerry follows suit into the theme
(11:43)
- Theme in full
- Phil drops his post verse theme lick
- They drop quickly out of the main theme and into its 2nd cousin
- They become very mellow and exploratory, you can tell they have somewhere to go
- They pick up pace, they have left the launching pad
- They begin to dabble in some real pure jazz, but they remain afloat and uncommitted
- Acid Jazz
- Jazz
- They just keep flowing, really beautiful stuff
- They draw back a bit and get more exploratory, spacey
- Jazz (you think they’re peeking…)
- Space Jazz
- They ease off and get more spacey
- They’re afloat, very mellow (is that ‘the wheel’ I hear, ‘China Doll?’)
(30:00)
- They pick a direction and begin building
- It begins to morph into something beautiful
- Acid Jazzgrass --> THE SONG/SHOW PEEKS
- Jazzgrass
- Rock Jazz
- GDTRFB Jazz (a different take on an awesome theme, they stick to it, yet play a brand new song)
- They quickly slowdown, flow, and become ‘Morning Dew.’
...and it's still early in the second set...great show...

Thanks about the nugs.net tip. Good stuff. Still available even today. Looking forward to the Dark Star.

As great as it was, I get a little tired of hearing the Springfield Creamery "Field Trip" show deified as though it is far ahead of its counterparts from this year. No doubt it was a fantastic show with a monster "Dark Star", but I feel it's a yet another case where great sounding copies have been in circulation for so long it's just become habit to anoint it as the year's best. To my ears, this outstanding show from the Spectrum has it all over 8/27/72 as a complete performance, and the Dark Star>Dew may be the best example of that combo ever played. A must have.

I don't know how or why, but the SBD is still available for DL at the site. It sounds great as others have mentioned. Get it before they take it away!!!

Definitely one of the finer shows i have heard. grate half-step, and the saturday night is rockin'. I found myself bouncin all over my drivers seat the first time i heard it. the bird song as well has a great feel too it. Sound quality is solid. a little backround buzzing, but nothing out of the ordinary. Music gets 5, sound gets 4. I'm still gonna give the show a 5 because the music is soo good. Definitely worth the download......well...stream : (

There is not much I can add to the discussion regarding the music but I can tell you all that the scene inside the Spectrum that night was electric if it was your first show- and laid back if that was what you wanted -there were ring dances going on at the rear of the hockey rink - you could cruise up and get close to the stage if you wanted to - the Dead came on early and played late.They were so good that it is no wonder that many of the songs they did that night became my favorite tunes to this day.There were many great shows in Philly but this one is truly special.

This is a great show through and through. As an aside, Keith didn't "have to die to get her out of the band", in fact, he actually died in a car crash sometime after leaving the band. The reasons for Keith's departure were more complex. He was getting stale on the keyboards, and doing too much smack, and supposedly he was not open to expanding his sound from the Grand piano to synthesizers and organs. Also there were allegations at the time of his departure of domestic abuse. While i agree that Donna was not always an asset to the sound, I think Keith was more at fault for their leaving the band.

This show deserves way more than a 5, it's supersonic, un freakin real, the sound is near perfect with every instrument and voice right there in the mix. if this dosn't have the # 1 versions of alot of tunes thay are #'s 2 and 3's.
One drummer dead at it's roarin best and mr kieth is tickling them ivories right fine like, it's amazin how he seamlessley blended into this band. i just wish he woulda left the missus at home to cook.. his fix and not ruin the mix. how can she live with her self? she must cringe when she hears some of the shows. to bad kieth had to die to get her outa the band! Anyway get this show it;s american r&r at it's best. In an ice rink for christ sakes!

This recording is exceptional. It hurts my feelings that I wasn't born in time to witness this music first hand. All praise be to the Archive that I may at least know what I was missing!
At about 8:20 in the Dark Star Jerry lets fly with some feedback that had me about tripping here at my desk. I locked my office door and just leaned back with my eyes closed. Sleep-dep probably helps, but I swear the eyelid movies were as real as yester-year...what seemed like a lifetime later (at only 10:20 my trusty Starcounter revealed) Jerry and Bobby were tickling my brain toward the first verse. At 11:30 the theme grounded me just in time for the lyrics to set me off in another direction. By 15:00 or so I had definately acheived lift-off, but the initial adrenaline of that gave way to the tranquility of interstellar travel...until about 19:06 when Jerry's wah ripped a whole in hyperspace...down the rabbit whole we go!!!
I'm gonna make two copies in case I lose one tripping...

I'm getting severe static on the last verse of China Cat, some more later in disk 1, and bad again just as Dark Star is getting intense. The Dark Star static tails off but doesn't go away entirely until partway into the Dew. I tried reburning disk 1 and got the exact same result (using Nero 6.0 demo version at 24x). Anyone else have this problem? Should I try a slower burn?
It's a great show, and I'd love to have a clean copy.
Edited to say: To answer my own question, it worked fined at 8x. Sad that it can't go faster, but glad to have a clean copy. The psychedeligrass/Mind Left Body jam is serious stuff!

kieth picks up the bird song jam as deftly as i have ever heard the dead. the MLB that leads into AN Dew is one of my favorite jams to wistle to. huge show, steller perfomences from the whole cast

WoW !!!!!!!!!!

In response to the pouch guy below: Jerry started using smack in ' 77(listen to the first half of the eighties for that sound); and in response to the quality of the show... IT F**KIN' ROCKS BEYOND DESCRIPTION!!! Jerry is freakin'on fire. If this is what a smacked out Jerry sounded like then we as mere mortals couldn't handle his ass straight!!
NAMASTE!

First of all I know pretty much everything there is to know about the Grateful Dead, and therefore my opinion is right (i.e. fact). Secondly, in a history of mostly fine shows, this is one of the finest they ever did. This show has been known to divert hurricanes from hitting land, save children from orphanage fires, and clean off baby seals and ducks harmed in oil spills. Hell, just the Dark Star->Morning Dew alone could solve the Middle East crisis, if only our dolt of a President would let it.
Giving this show 5 stars is sort of a slap in the face to this show considering all this show has done for humanity, but alas, that's as high as the ratings go. Ah well.

Had to take a breather after the Morning Dew the first time I listened to this show, its f'in intense. The first set is fantastic, culminating in a near-perfect Playin' (right up there with 8/27 as my favorites for the year). Monster of a Dark Star. One of the best of the year, and thats saying a lot for 1972

While a fine performance is turned out by all involved, this show is Jerry, Jerry, Jerry! The Dark Star opening is unique with Garcia wailin' like a wildcat. Check out the fantastic Jack Straw intro. and ChinaCat erupting with fire. I only bother rating the shows I love, this joins the short, sweet list of five star extravaganzas. Is it me, or did the boys have a special affinity for Philly?

the person who reviewed this show before me is in the minority, and rightfully so.
This show is an absolute monster, easily a top 5 overall performance for the year. And yes, that's with realizing that 1972 was so strong. "China > Rider," "Playin'," "He's Gone > Truckin'," "Dark Star > Dew," "1/2-Step," "Sugar Mags," and "NFA > GDTRFB > NFA" are **ALL** stand-out tracks, with furious, dance-infested jamming taking place throughout.
This is absolutely a must-have show. Period.
Sound: A+
Show: A++

OK here's the deal: I'm not trying to be overly harsh, but because there are so many shows out there, we "deadheads" (whatever that means) must be picky. I can't see myself listening to this whole show just because Jerry sounds smacked up. I know, I know... he was half his life. The Looser is alright, (not the best), and I'd say the highlight is Darkstar. The intruments were there; the vocals weren't. Sorry guys...three stars, four- tops.

This show already has a lot of reviews but I'm going to throw another log on the fire.
This is one of the best shows I have ever heard. Every tune just sparkles. The first set is a strand of f*ckin' pearls! The Bird Song, Loser, Cumberland, Playin are all some of the best versions ever. Truly amazing stuff.
The second set continues where the Playin' left off. The He's Gone is bliss, the Truckin' is crankin' and the Black Peter is blah, blah, blah. I haven't even mentioned the Dark Star>Morning Dew. I don't have time to try and come up with a better way of putting it except to say, that this was a special night and the band plays like the bad-ass jam masters they were. The worst I can say about this show is that the remaining songs can't possibly top what preceded them (even though they are also well played).
Erase what you have to on your hard drive and just down load the damned show! Make it happen! It's free (for now at least). This will probably be made into a Dick's Picks and yanked (temporarily from the line up). One of the best deals on the internet.
I agree that a lot of reviewers on this site get a little too happy with the 5-star rating but this show is a 10.

This is the first show I'm rating. Glad its one from philly my hometown. Trust me when I say I've listened to tons of Dead. This show is worth all the five star reviews. Very High Energy. Nice seperation in sound and clarity. Definelty one of my top 5 first sets ever!! Get this show now if your a true Dead Head!

this is a great, great show. I was born in 1982 so I cant say that I toured with the dead at their prime, but this show in particular is the best for me. This long show showcases the talent and originality of the dead. Truely unbelievable show. Dark Star, Morning Dew, Friend of the Devil...greatness

Obviously one of the best. Im not downloading this because I already have it, but if you're actually reading this and dont have it then stop NOW and download it now... It really is stellar. The Big River is the best ever, like rolling water. Even the songs you dont like are amazing. The darks star, cumberland, dew, nfa>gdtrfb>nfa, half step, hes gone> Truckin- TRUCKIN? one of the best ever. Seriously, why are you wasting time reading this crap, just get it.

You CANNOT be without this show, folks. Everything else smokes but the DS>MLB>Dew should easily justify the download alone. The Dark Star in particular is one of the all-time best, up there with 12/6/73, 2/13/70, 4/24/72, 11/2/69, and 11/11/73. It is NOT to be missed. It is the Dead at their peak.

I had parts of this one on tape. I remembered that Dick played the Dark Star at Jerry's wake. This trully is a smooth, vast, eerie ride. The sound is wonderful. Each note just sits there... It's in my top ten.

This part of the show really sticks out.

Get this show! Let me repeat that, Get this Show! I am a huge 73-74 fan, and have recently been turned on to the '82 spring tour...but my god. This show is mammoth, the sound is incredible, and the music is scorching. The Dead stretch out intensly here, and at times, they can't be stopped...

This is it folks! The Dead climaxing at their best. 4 Cds of great playing, what more could you ask for? Despite a couple of small glitches, this is probably my favorite show. Sound quality is superb and the volume is high!
The Dark Star > Morning Dew is phenomenal. Dark Star is a monster! The players descend into uncharted territory of deep space and then sum it up with a great closing jam into Morning Dew.
And then you're treated with an energetic, early version of Half Step. Not one song on this concert is bad. It is truly amazing, and if there is ever a concert that can be life-changing, this might be it.

It never ceases to amaze me that GD live tapes sound better than some current bands produced in studios and put out by big recording companies - crap that is overproduced, over processed, over compressed, over sampled, etc.....and the recording companies wonder why I do not buy music anymore.
Okay off my soapbox....
The sound is incredible on this show. When I think I have heard the best show elsewhere, it's always pleasant to run across gems like this.
Playing in the band is incredible and caused my alpha/beta waves to spasm and I swear I was getting flashbacks at work listening to this. My coworkers were wondering why I had grin on my face. I'll probably get drug tested tomorrow :)
He's Gone is one of my favorites - I can really feel this one... great song to come down home to.
Download this and save for your future grandchildren to have ....so they can rediscover the dead, understand what it is to feel the music, and save the world. Rent "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure" and you will understand what I'm talking about.

Words cannot describe the second set of this show.
Jerry is in peak performance mode. This guy was Mozart of guitar...

Hard to pick a best show in such a consistently amazing year, but if I had to pick just one, this would be it. Jerry is his usual stellar self, but really of note is that this might be Bobby's finest night on stage - his singing and playing is very strong throughout. As stated before the Dark Star > Dew is beyond description - amazing.

apocryphal? Seems really out of place.

This is an amazing show! So well played, from beginning to end. Great versions of everything. This is a classic!!!

Dark Star>MLB>Morning Dew
We get almost three full minutes of Mind Left Body teases, then at about 33:30 Jerry rips into it in earnest, masterful, in tune (thankfully)right into...
Morning Dew. Perfection.
You need this.

It's a crime this was never a Dick's Picks. It heartily deserves it. Every show from Sept 72 (and I have them all thanks to LAMA)is just stellar. I can recommend them all. This show's highlights include,well, Jerry! The Bird Song, the RR Blues,the Cumberland, the Black Peter!!!! And Dick was correct, the Dark Star>Morning Dew is the best version ever of this pairing. It always gives me cold chills. In its own way, this show stands up to 5/11 and 8/27. Highly recommended!
Dr. Flashback ;-)

This is what Dicks wrote about this show in a essay/review of the year 1972.
"Now to the really exceptional material. First up is
9/21/72- Philadelphia Spectrum. This show is one of my favorite shows
ever. This version of "Dark Star->Morning Dew" might be the best one!
(there is a jam segment that is very unique and thrilling, and one that I
don't really think that I have ever heard before.) The "Not Fade
Away->GDTRFB->NFA" is another delicious morsel from this power packed
evening. Each song is well played and worthy of attention. I think the
other major highlights are "Sugar Magnolia", "Bird Song", "Loser",
"Playing in the Band", "Truckin", and "Cumberland Blues".
An awesome show. China Cat > Rider is also really really great. I don't think the Dark Star comes that close to 27/08/72's greatness, but it is pretty damn good overall and as Dick says there are some really unique parts of it (same with 27/08/72).

Please listen to this Dark Star!!!!
The Jam.....
Embryonic Journey meets GDTRFB!!